ACLU hits Arizona jail on conditions for immigrants

FLORENCE, Ariz. — American Civil Liberties Union is faulting the Pinal County
Jail in Florence, Ariz. over jail conditions for immigrant detainees.

The Maricopa Monitor
reports that the ACLU of Arizona sent a letter this week to federal Immigration
and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security officials that
threatened litigation, calling the conditions at the jail “unconstitutional.”

Victoria Lopez, program director for the ACLU of Arizona, said the complaint
about the conditions specifically applies to a separate wing of the facility that
has 625 beds set aside for immigrants detained by ICE. The group says those
detainees have no access to outdoor exercise, no face-to-face contact with
loved ones, and an unsanitary environment,

Sheriff Paul Babeu said his jail is the best run adult detention center in
Arizona.